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Eater
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
Rammy Awards Apologizes for Mixing Up Photos of Two Asian American Chefs
The 43rd annual Rammy Awards, better known as the Oscars of D.C.'s restaurant world, were somewhat overshadowed by one controversial mishap involving two talented Asian American chefs who were up for the same category. During Sunday night's black-tie soiree at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the newly crowned Pastry Chef of the Year, Alicia Wang (La' Shukran, Yellow, Albi), was incorrectly identified with a photo of fellow nominee Susan Bae (Moon Rabbit). The blatantly obvious error appeared in both the glossy program distributed to guests upon arrival and then aired live on a jumbotron for all to see during the ceremony. The Rammy Awards' host, Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), waited a full 24 hours after the awards were announced to comment on the situation. 'We sincerely apologize for making this unfortunate mistake and the harm that it has caused,' per a lengthy statement posted to its Instagram account on Monday night. 'What happened unfairly took away from what should have been a well-deserved moment of joy for Chef Alicia.' The egregious snafu tied to one of the night's many categories was immediately noticed, discussed, and slammed by industry and media attendees during the event and into the following day. It remains unclear how the error was actually made and overlooked on not only one, but two, visible platforms. Wang was present at the Rammys but did not take the stage when her name was announced. Her co-workers accepted the award on her behalf, awkwardly acknowledging the misplaced photo of Bae displayed behind them on the screen. Bae, the two-time James Beard Award finalist for the nation's Best Pastry Chef, was not in attendance because she was in New England for a previously scheduled dinner. Neither nominee responded to Eater's request for comment regarding the incident, but Bae did allude to her frustration over the photo mix-up in a late-Sunday Instagram story, writing words like 'disappointed' and 'nonsense back in D.C.,' accompanied by a picture of a sugary fritter. Korean American chef Danny Lee (Anju, Chiko) quickly stood up for the understandably embarrassed nominees in an Instagram story, reposting a selfie with Wang to congratulate her on the Rammy win. Screenshot Some responses on RAMW's prepared comments suggested its delayed damage control missed the mark. 'Why not also make this apology a carousel with the correct awardee and photo,' with the hashtags 'simple' and 'restorative,' wrote @tcresidential. Per @juuudyhong: 'publicly confusing Asians on an institutional level in 2025?? Embarrassing.' Another account, @dcpiffle, took a more productive approach, proposing RAMW make a donation in their name to an organization that benefits Asian American and Pacific Islanders culinary creatives, such as Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate. RAMW, which hired a new public relations firm (Link Strategic Partners) to execute this year's Rammy Awards after working with a different one for some time, communicated its desire to make things right with Wang, Bae, and their respective teams. 'We are firmly committed to both an ongoing dialogue with them and a revision of process that will help ensure these mistakes do not occur again in the future,' reads the statement. Popular D.C. blogger Washingtonian Problems reposted RAMW's apology to a sea of responses that included: 'What the damn hell? How can they make such a glaring mistake?' It wasn't the only indelible dent in the event, however. A D.C. restaurant publicist drew Eater's attention to the misspelling of her late client's name in the memoriam portion of the program. Luis Lezama, an ordained priest and founder of downtown's decades-old Spanish stalwart Taberna del Alabardero, died in January at age 88; his last name was incorrectly written in the pamphlet and on the screen as 'Lezam.' Eater DC All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Axios
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
RAMMY Awards finalists: What's new and surprising
Washington's bar and restaurant honors, the annual RAMMY Awards, are back with an exciting lineup of nominees. Why it matters: The RAMMYs are like a local version of the James Beard Awards, celebrating talent, diversity, leadership — and of course deliciousness — in the local food and drink scene. What's new: The 20 award categories are either voted on by the public (e.g. Best Brunch, Best Bar) or a panel of judges made up of anonymous industry experts. For the first time, the Best Fast Casual honor will be awarded by judges — meant to indicate "their elevated stature in the industry," per the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. Finalists include popular spots like taco joint La Tejana and Yellow pita shop, as well as newcomers like Emma's Torch, a pioneering Woodridge cafe that trains refugees and asylum seekers in culinary arts (and also makes a tasty egg and cheese biscuit). And of course, best new restaurants! Up in that category are: Ama (Italian, Navy Yard) La' Shukran (Middle Eastern, Union Market) Kayu (Filipino, H Street) Pascual (Mexican, Capitol Hill) San Pancho (Amaze burritos, Takoma Park) Between the lines: Darlings of the award circuit are well-represented, like Shaw's plant-based tasting room Mita — up in three RAMMY categories (Formal Fine Dining, Service, Rising Culinary Stars) and a 2025 James Beard Award. You'll also find award-magnets Moon Rabbit, Causa, Anju, and more. Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique in Arlington (Best Wine Program). The intrigue: While the RAMMYs are a hyper-local affair, there's a notable out-of-town name in the mix: Philadelphia's Stephen Starr, up for Restaurateur of the Year.
